As many of you will be aware, despite our best efforts, STAUNCH were unsuccessful in our High Court case against North Northants Council. The case focused on what we believed were failings by the council to adequately follow due process in relation to the Glebe Land development.
The full judgement can be viewed on our website at https://staunchcampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/STAUNCH-HAND-DOWN-JUDGMENT.pdf
Having reviewed the judgement at length, our legal team strongly believe the judge erred in law in respect of two of our five grounds. As a first step we made a request to the presiding judge to hear our appeal against his findings. Not unexpectedly, this request was refused, as in effect we were asking the judge to mark his own homework.
The legal team feel that the issues raised are not only of local significance to our Special Protection Area (SPA) but of international importance if legislation protecting these areas is ignored. Therefore, on the 14th September we submitted an application to the court of appeal for a full hearing of the case. It is likely to be 3-4 months before we know if the application has been approved. If it is, then it is likely to be a further 6-12 months before the case is heard.
As ever, with further legal action comes further expense. To help meet these costs STAUNCH launched a Crowd Justice fund raising campaign. As of the 11th September we had smashed our initial target of £10,000 with funds reaching more than £13,000 with 18 days of the campaign remaining.
Support for our work has been unwavering. As ever, residents of the Upper Nene Valley and from many other areas of the country have come forward with such generous contributions. Thank you.
You can follow the campaign at https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildlife-not-warehouses/
Please do share this link on your own social media channels.
Other Updates
On Wednesday 19th August, an application for an extension to the SAICA warehouse on the Haldens Parkway Estate was approved by North Northants Council. (NE/24/00559/FUL). STAUNCH had been monitoring the application closely and although we did not oppose it outright, we believe that once again, the planning officers failed to carry out their statutory duties. The evidence provided by STAUNCH was once again ignored by the Planning Committee.
The failure of both North Northants Council and the Environment Agency to address the illegal, large scale, dumping of waste on the Lilford Hall Estate remains unresolved and STAUNCH are currently working with our local MP, Lee Barron, to ensure the matter is addressed.
Finally, I am delighted to be able to announce that STAUNCH have been nominated for a Kings Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS). Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the Award is equivalent to an MBE, and is the highest Award given to local voluntary groups in the UK, and they are awarded for life.
To be nominated for this prestigious award is recognition alone for the work not only of the members of STAUNCH but all of you that have supported us over the past five years.
It will be November before we will know if we have been successful. Fingers crossed!
In recognition of the nomination some members of the STAUNCH committee and our fundraising team attended an afternoon reception at Rockingham Castle in August hosted by the Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, James Saunders Watson.
To keep updated on developments please follow us on any of the following:
- Facebook – @STAUNCH
- Instagram – staunch.campaign
- X (formerly Twitter) – @STAUNCHcampaign
- Website – www.staunchcampaign.org
Kevin Shapland
Chair
STAUNCH